Welcome to the International Kiteboarding Association

Our Vision

To grow, evolve and promote the sport of kiteboarding across the globe and across all disciplines.

For more information please also visit our topic specific websites:

Formula Kite

The Formula Kite class is a high performance hydrofoiling class using regulated series registered production equipment freely available.

For Regional Games and a possible inclusion in the Olympic Games, one hydrofoil model and one kite model will be selected for a plain level playing field and to avoid an arms race.

KiteFoil GoldCup

The KiteFoil class is a full development class with minimal equipment limitation, allowing brands to test the latest equipment on the market.

The GoldCup tour is the sports premium event series with events all around the world and a strong focus on media production and prize money level.

Slalom

Slalom on TT:R (TwinTip boards) has been selected as the discipline and equipment for the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires.

The focus of this high-octane discipline is on equipment handling and technique and includes reaching starts, reaching courses, and obstacels to jump.

Expression

The Expression Disciplines currently include Freestyle, Big Air, Wave Riding, Strapless Freestyle and Park. Competition is judged on difficulty and execution rather than "first past the post".

World Sailing, IKA and GKA have agreed to share the responsibilities for the Expression Disciplines with the Open World Titles awarded through professional tours.

Youth Olympics

Kiteboarding has been included in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games with a boardercross event on IKA TwinTip:Racing equipment, for boys and girls born between 2000 and 2003.

Have a look here to learn more about equipment limitations, formats and qualification opportunities.

Olympic and Regional Games

The IKA continues to campaign for an inclusion of kiteboarding in the 2020 Tokyo Games and several Regional Games on One Design Kitefoiling Equipment.

The Formula Kite class is the only afforadable solution for emerging and developing nations to compete in high performance classes and ticks all boxes of the IOC requirements, especially for youth and media appeal.

Events shall be organized by an organizing authority, which shall be

(a) the ISAF;

(b) a member national authority of the ISAF;

(c) a club or other organization affiliated to a national authority;

(d) a class association, either with the approval of a national authority or in conjunction with an affiliated club;

(e) an unaffiliated body in conjunction with an affiliated club where the body is owned and controlled by the club. The national authority of the club may prescribe that its approval is required for such an event; or

(f) if approved by the ISAF and the national authority of the club, an unaffiliated body in conjunction with an affiliated club where the body is not owned and controlled by the club.

Criteria for all events:

(a) Dates should be agreed with the IKA Secretariat before 1 April of the current year (Southern Hemisphere) and 1 August of the preceding year (Northern Hemisphere) to avoid possible clashes (this will be strictly enforced in the case of 200 point events)

(b) The event shall be sailed broadly according to the principles applied in the current event format and shall be of a uniformly high standard.

(c) The Notice of Race shall be published at least 6 months before the event (4 months for 100 pointers, 3 months for 50 pointers, 2 months for 20 pointers). Exceptions may be only granted by the IKA Executive Committee. The Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions shall comply with the Notice of Race Guide and the Sailing Instructions Guide in the Racing Rules of Sailing and the event shall be organised in accordance with the ISAF Race Management Policies (and the ISAF event manual)

(d) Within 24 hours of the last race results shall be entered into the IKA website provided for this purpose, or faxed or emailed to the IKA Secretariat, in a format as stipulated by the IKA, so that they can be entered into the Rankings.

(e) Organizers of all graded events must ensure the publication on the event website of the daily results without delay.

(f) In restricted entry events, one place per applying country is granted automatically. Remaining places are awarded strictly by the IKA rankings as of close of registration. Wildcards for the local organizer and “injury wildcards” may be reserved. The NoR shall outline details of the quota regulations applied.

(g) High level of organization on the water as well as on shore is required.

Criteria for 200 point events:

These criteria apply for

Class World Championships (Fleet Racing Format)

ISAF Sailing World Championships (Fleet Racing Format)

ISAF Sailing World Cups (Short Track Format)

Additional Criteria:

(a) the event shall take place either within the host continent’s window, or in the free window, in the ISAF calendar;

(b) an International Jury to be established;

(c) lycra numbers and seeding, if used, shall reflect competitors' positions on the IKA World Rankings.

Criteria for 100 point events:

These criteria apply for

Class Continental Championships

Class World Championships (if not inside the host continents window)

Sailing World Cup Qualifier Events (Palma/Hyeres)

Additional Criteria:

(a) the event shall take place either within the host continent’s window, or in the free window, in the ISAF calendar;

(b) the event shall be either a Continental Championships, or shall meet the minimum fleet size and spread requirement for a 100-point event (which shall be specified by ISAF and may vary by class and continent), or shall be declared by IKA to be a 100-point Event;

(c) preferably an International Jury is established - where an International Jury cannot be established, the Chairman of the Protest Committee shall be an International Judge, not from the host country;

(d) three races are required to be completed to constitute a series.

Criteria for 50 point events:

These criteria apply for

Other international open class events

Additional Criteria:

(a) the event shall meet the minimum fleet size and spread requirement for a 50-point event (which shall be specified by ISAF and may vary by class and continent), or shall be declared by IKA to be a 50-point Eventthe event;

(b) where an International Jury cannot be established, the Chairman of the Protest Committee shall be an International Judge